Off to Skye visiting Eilean Donan castle on the way - well, we didn't actually go into the castle as we were a bit pressed for time and there were quite a few people already there. Although a castle has been on this site since the 13th century this is a reconstruction done in the early 20th century. From there we travelled along a narrow winding road to Plockton the village used in the TV series Hamish Macbeth, passing through the very small hamlet of Durinish, before crossing over the bridge to Skye. Here we drove north past the Old Man of Storr, a dramatic rocky outcrop, steep grassy hills sloping into the sea and across the Quiraing, a twisted rocky landscape caused by landslides many millions of years ago. This took us over to Uig where we will catch the ferry to Harris and Lewis and finally on to Dunvegan Castle which has been the ancestral home of the McLeod clan for over 800 years. Finally on to Portree where we stayed at a quaint B&B on our last night with Mags who was heading back to Wales in the morning.
Eilean Donan Castle
the quaint little village (hamlet?) of Durninish on the way to Plockton
Plockton, site of the Hamish Macbeth TV series
Plockton
Quiraing - a massive rocky area. Fantastic scenery and an "interesting drive"
Long horned sheep on Quiraing
Grassy cliffside Skye
The Old Man of Storr rock on Skye
Uig - the town in the north west of Skye where we will catch the ferry to Harris and Lewis
Dunvegan Castle, home to the McLeod family for over 800 years.
Before we farewelled Mags on her seven hour bus trip to Glasgow and then a flight to Cardiff, we trooped down to Portree Harbour which was brilliant on such a clear sunny day - we are starting to think that all that talk about Scotland's weather is just rumour mongering!
Gail and I then headed out to Neist Point the most westerly point on Skye. It was, as usual here, an interesting drive with mostly narrow roads (tracks) with regular passing places. Neist Point is quite an eye-opener - high steep cliffs falling into the sea with the lighthouse perched way out on a promontory like a finger pointing. On our way back to Portree we passed by the black hills of Cuillin - dramatic backdrop of sharp angular peaks.
From there we travelled along a narrow winding road to Plockton the village used in the TV series Hamish Macbeth, passing through the very small hamlet of Durinish, before crossing over the bridge to Skye. Here we drove north past the Old Man of Storr, a dramatic rocky outcrop, steep grassy hills sloping into the sea and across the Quiraing, a twisted rocky landscape caused by landslides many millions of years ago. This took us over to Uig where we will catch the ferry to Harris and Lewis and finally on to Dunvegan Castle which has been the ancestral home of the McLeod clan for over 800 years. Finally on to Portree where we stayed at a quaint B&B on our last night with Mags who was heading back to Wales in the morning.
On our way back to Portree we passed by the black hills of Cuillin - dramatic backdrop of sharp angular peaks.